Etiquette question

My friend plays mixed doubles at his club with the same opponents regularly. I don't know the NPTR ratings but I doubt we have any great players in this foursome.

The woman they play against is much worse than the man so they just try to hit the ball to her all the time. I could see how if this was a tournament it's fine, but for a weekly friendly game......Is this sporting?

It would depend on how seriously they are when they are playing. If they are actually playing sets then I would expect that all of them want to win and when playing doubles often that means trying to hit to the weaker opponent. In mixed doubles often times it is the woman that is the weaker player and so the majority of the shots are going to be hit to her. Most women at the lower levels feel more comfortable playing from the baseline (less chance of getting hit). One of the basic strategies in doubles is hit to the deeper person, which means the woman will get more balls hit in her direction. I don't think it is a question of being sporting or not. It's how you play doubles tennis. Hitting overheads or blasting service returns at the woman is probably not a "nice" way to play, particularly in social tennis situations but all the women I play mixed doubles with want to play even up with the men, otherwise they wouldn't be playing mixed doubles.

Jack Kramer used to say that you beat someone as quickly as possible and buy them a beer afterword. With that being said, The best way to handle a situation in which you are playing socially against a lesser player(s) is to play a game within a game. For example, when I'm playing someone of lesser skills, I will use the opportunity to play a point in a way that will make me hit a shot I have been having problems with. This is also a great opportunity to work on a second serve. By doing this, you keep your mind active and no one is the wiser so feelings are not hurt.

Jack Kramer used to say that you beat someone as quickly as possible and buy them a beer afterword. With that being said, The best way to handle a situation in which you are playing socially against a lesser player(s) is to play a game within a game. For example, when I'm playing someone of lesser skills, I will use the opportunity to play a point in a way that will make me hit a shot I have been having problems with. This is also a great opportunity to work on a second serve. By doing this, you keep your mind active and no one is the wiser so feelings are not hurt.

Click to expand...

I did just that last night. The only one with a hurt feeling was me cuz I lost. And he didn't buy me beer.

Pug,
That's funny. Remember, people usually play their best when they are playing someone better. That might explain your loss. Either that or you just plane . . . no, we won't go there. Hey, if you're ever in Vermont, we can play and the beer is on me regardless of the outcome.